Indigo Cherry Drops brings the striking purple-shouldered beauty of indigo tomatoes to a perfectly sized cherry format. This open-pollinated indeterminate variety delivers its first colorful harvest in approximately 71 days from transplant, though some growers report fruit ready as early as 65 days. The compact cherry tomatoes develop their signature dark purple shoulders that fade to red, creating a stunning two-toned appearance that's as beautiful as it is delicious. With their moderate water needs and preference for full sun, these vigorous vines reward gardeners with continuous harvests throughout the growing season.
24
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
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High
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What sets Indigo Cherry Drops apart is its membership in the coveted indigo tomato family, where anthocyanin pigments create those distinctive purple shoulders that deepen in sunlight. This open-pollinated variety gives gardeners the freedom to save seeds while enjoying the visual drama of bicolored fruit on productive indeterminate vines. The relatively quick 71-day maturity makes it accessible to gardeners across many growing zones, while its compact cherry size offers perfect snacking portions with the complex flavors that indigo varieties are celebrated for.
These striking cherry tomatoes excel fresh in salads where their dramatic purple and red coloring creates visual impact alongside their complex flavor. Their perfect snacking size makes them ideal for lunch boxes, party platters, and garden grazing. The firm texture holds up well in fresh salsas and Mediterranean dishes, while their unique coloring makes them a chef's favorite for garnishing and creating memorable presentations.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your anticipated transplant date, sowing them 1/4 inch deep in seed starting mix. Maintain soil temperature between 75 to 85°F for optimal germination, which typically occurs within 5 to 7 days. Provide strong light and keep growing temperatures at a constant 60 to 70°F to prevent leggy growth. When the first true leaves appear, transplant seedlings to 3 to 4 inch pots and fertilize every 10 to 14 days with a complete fertilizer.
Transplant outdoors around the last frost date, ensuring soil temperatures are consistently warm and night temperatures won't drop below 45°F for consecutive nights. Space plants 24 inches apart and plant deeply, burying the stem up to the top 2 sets of leaves to encourage strong root development. Work compost and a balanced fertilizer into the planting area, and water with a high-phosphate fertilizer solution to boost early yields.
Harvest when fruits develop their full indigo coloring on the shoulders while the bottom portion turns from green to red, indicating peak ripeness at approximately 71 days from transplant. Pick fruits when they yield slightly to gentle pressure but are still firm to the touch. For best flavor, allow tomatoes to ripen fully on the vine rather than picking green, as the complex flavors develop during the final ripening stage.
As an indeterminate variety, Indigo Cherry Drops benefits from pruning to 1 or 2 main leaders for better air circulation and easier harvest. Remove suckers that develop between the main stem and branches to direct energy into fruit production. Consider pruning the tops once vines reach a manageable height for harvest, especially when using shorter trellising systems.
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